A skydiver attempting to set a world record has been killed in the Arizona desert.

Diana Paris, 46, died when her main and reserve parachutes failed to open properly.

She was among 222 skydivers trying to set a new mark for a group-formation jump at the SkyDive Arizona centre in Eloy.

Centre spokeswoman Jocelyn Bernatchez said: "The malfunctioning parachute was released too low to allow the reserve parachute to fully open."

Ms Paris, from Berlin, who was taking part in the team's first attempt to set the record, was declared dead at the scene. It is believed she had completed 1,500 jumps in her skydiving career.

Ms Bernatchez said the airplane involved had been working properly and that the weather in Eloy at the time of the accident, at around 7.30am local time on Thursday, was fine.

The team of 222 veteran skydivers from 28 countries was to free-fall from 19,500ft at speeds of up to 120mph, come together in a formation, separate and re-form before opening their parachutes.

Dressed in multi-coloured jumpsuits, they were taken up in 10 planes and had 80 seconds to complete the manoeuvre after jumplng from the aircraft. They had been in training for 18 months to break the record set last year in Florida by 110 skydivers.

After Ms Paris' death the team performed a special jump in her honour.

Gulcin Gilbert, a spokeswoman for the World Team group that organised the jump, said: "Our dear friend cannot and will not be replaced."

Eloy police spokesman Brian Jerome said the incident was being investigated by police and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The accident marked the third skydiving death during record attempts at the centre since December.

Briton Keiron O'Rourke, 40, and German Bernd Schmehl, 51, died after colliding at around 200ft and falling to the ground.

The pair were part of a team of 200 skydivers trying to break the double-formation record.